KIEV, July 10 - The combined assets held by banks in Ukraine increased 16.7% in the first half of 2008 to UAH722.6 billion, the National Bank of Ukraine reported.

Highly liquid assets made up 9.2% of the total, loan operations - 80.2% and investment in securities - 4%.

Bank capital grew 21.7% to UAH84.7 billion. The share of paid-in registered charter capital totals 62.9% of bank capital.